Events

Karen Jensen enjoys being a part of the non-profit sector after working in the for-profit world of sales and marketing.Karen’s experiences have allowed her to express her passion for creating relationships and helping others in the community.She spent 10 years with Habitat for Humanity, and learned about the incredible network non-profits in the community.In 2008 she joined the FOOD Share and is part of the Food Sourcing Team. FOOD Share, Ventura County’s Food Bank. Karen has served on the board of the Ventura County Volunteer Coordinators Council and Association of Fundraising Professions, Santa Barbara and Ventura County.

Kristie Akl, Board President, and Meryl Chase, Vice President of kidSTREAM Children’s Museum, together with their board, advisory board and a team of volunteers, are committed to establishing a quality, state of the art Children’s Museum for Ventura County, transforming Camarillo's former library building.

Kristie Akl: A former Science teacher and mom to three girls, ages 4, 6 & 8. She's a dedicated volunteer and leader in Girl Scouts as well as other local organizations, and has been committed to bringing a quality hands-on children's museum to Ventura County for the past four years.

Meryl Chase: With an MBA and a background in film production/marketing and small business ownership, Meryl's knowledge-base and experience are a driving force as kidSTREAM moves forward. She is mom to an 8 year old boy, and committed to volunteering in many ways that support our community.

Bob Poole rejoined the WSPA team in March, 2015 and currently serves as Director, Production, State and Coastal Issues. In this capacity, Bob is an integral part of WSPA’s team responsible for supporting the management of upstream regulatory issues and advocacy on behalf of our petroleum producing members.

Prior to rejoining WSPA, from 2011-2015 Bob served as Public and Government Affairs Manager for WSPA-member company Santa Maria Energy where he helped lead a successful effort to obtain approval for an environmentally innovative enhanced oil recovery project in Santa Barbara County, Ca. While at Santa Maria Energy, Bob also played a key role in the defeat of the local ballot initiative “Measure P, which would have prohibited most of the petroleum production in this County.

Bob’s previous “tour of duty” with WSPA from 2002-2011, included overseeing all California production regions and work in the issue areas of offshore platforms, marine and property tax.

Before coming to WSPA, Bob served as the President/CEO of both the Goleta Valley and Solvang, California chambers of commerce and is a former small business owner, which culminated a 20 + years career in the Office Products Industry.

Bob earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s of science degree in Environmental Management from the University of Maryland. Bob has three children and one granddaughter.

District Governor John Weiss joined the Rotary Club of Morro Bay in 2001.

Club President in 2009-2010.

Relating to Membership, has created and presented district Membership seminars since 2010; PETS Instructor on “Engaging Members” for the past 4 years; Personally sponsored over 50 new members; and Co-chartered the Eco-Rotary Club Morro Bay (Charter Club President), Morro Bay High School Interact Club, and the San Luis Obispo Rotaract Club.

John’s wife Christine is a great partner who is a Charter and current member of theRotary Club of Morro Bay – Eco. Together they have 5 adult children Paul, Melissa, Sophia, Stuart, and Jessica. Grandchildren Calvin (16), Jack (5), and Brandt (2).

John is a working Governor with retail and professional electronics stores in Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, and Buellton. Fortunately he has a staff that has been with the company (founded with father in 1978) and industry largely 20 - 30 years.

John is active and plays basketball, golfs, and walks in between Rotary functions and club visits, church, family, and work.